In the late 70's and early 80's SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams were just coming to the forefront as effective tools for law enforcement in their attempt to achieve peaceful resolution in critical incidents.  In 1980, knowing the crucial role these teams would play in ensuring the safety of the citizens of the County of Stanislaus, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department implemented the SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams.  Over the last 20 years the two teams have continued to work successfully together toward the peaceful resolution of critical incidents, ensuring the safety of law enforcement personnel, the citizens of this community, and the suspect(s) involved.  Where there is chaos, together we stabilize and contain the incident so we can get the suspect(s) past their immediate crisis.  Each team member has different roles, with the same objective in mind; preservation of life, apprehension of the hostage taker/barricaded subject, seeking a peaceful resolution, restoring order, and the recovery or protection of property without the use of force whenever possible.
Special Weapons And Tactics officers are specially trained personnel who are called upon in situations requiring expertise, tactics and equipment beyond what is normally used by field deputies. Because of the nature of SWAT incidents, the tasks listed represent some of the activities performed by SWAT.

Missions assigned to SWAT include:
-Narcotic Search Warrant Service
-Barricaded Persons, Sniper Incidents
-Hostage Rescue
-Vehicle Assaults
-High-Risk Surveillance
-High-Risk Arrests
-Personal Protection Details

SWAT goes through rigorous training put on by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  However, there wasn't any formal training for the Hostage Negotiators, other than on the job training, until a few years after the teams' birth.  There is now a course put on by San Jose State University and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  Our team trains once a month separately, and twice a year with SWAT.  We also maintain a relationship with surrounding law enforcement agencies negotiation teams, training with them bi-annually.

As a negotiator you must possess the ability to listen and empathize with people from all walks of life.  And through the combination of effective oral communication and listening skills, relay in a convincing manner to diffuse crisis incidents.  Hostage Negotiators must possess excellent interview skills, easily establish credibility with others, be able to communicate with persons from the lowest to the highest socioeconomic class, possess practical intelligence, commonsense, and be street wise, able to cope with uncertainty, understand lives are in imminent danger and will have to assist in the planning to rescue the hostages.

Our negotiators have proven to be extremely valuable members of CIRT.  Interactions between the negotiation team, on scene commander, and the SWAT team is critical.  Together we have successfully and safely resolved several critical incidents.  We are the line that separates a peaceful resolution from the tactical option.  We are dedicated professionals who continue to function in this role because we care about the people in this community.  We are here to serve, and we are committed to resolving incidents without injury or loss of life to anyone.  We are a dedicated group of women and men.